College Q&A: 40th anniversary website details UHV's growth

By Jeremy Shapiro
April 6, 2013 at midnightUpdated April 5, 2013 at 11:06 p.m.

Where can I go to find out more information about how the University of Houston-Victoria is celebrating its 40th anniversary?

Since universities only turn 40 once, UHV has been keeping the birthday party going all school year with a variety of events and historical commemorations.

The best place to stay abreast of the celebration is by visiting UHV's new 40th anniversary website, 40th.uhv.edu. Readers can learn about UHV's rich history through a series of stories, photographs and videos. The site also gives viewers a peak at what lies ahead for the university.

The journey started in 1973 when what was then known as the University of Houston Victoria Center opened its doors to 356 students. An article and timeline on the website details how the university has grown to a booming, four-year institution with more than 60 degrees and concentrations being taught to more than 4,300 students today.

There are plenty of fun facts to learn along the journey. Did you know UHVC music professor David Urness helped found the Victoria Bach Festival in 1975? Any guesses on what year UHV offered its first online class? Go to the website to find out.

The website also describes the transformation of the Victoria campus when UHV became a four-year university in 2010. UHV has more than doubled its student population in Victoria as new residence halls, sports teams and student life programs have sprung up.

During the past four decades, more than 12,000 alumni have earned at least one UHV degree. A where-are-they-now article on the website shares what 40 prominent alumni have accomplished since graduation.

A welcome letter by UHV President Phil Castille addresses how UHV is celebrating 40 years of higher education, including the introduction of a $10,000 accelerated bachelor's degree program, start of a new lecture series, construction of a new residence hall and unveiling of a school mascot, jaX the Jaguar.

Of course, no anniversary website is complete without photos and videos, and we've got that covered as well, including images as far back as the 1980s up to recent footage of the students' version of the "Harlem Shake."

The 40th anniversary website also is a great source to find out about upcoming community events, such as the groundbreaking of a new academic and development building next to the University Center on Ben Wilson Street. New videos featuring alumni will be added to the website throughout the year.

Do you have a question about the University of Houston-Victoria? Contact Jeremy Shapiro, UHV communications specialist, at 361-570-4296 or shapiroj@uhv.edu.